Wheel structure



Oct. 9, 1945.. i G A LYON 2,386,242

WHEEL STRUCTURE Filed Dec; 2o, 1943 Gsoees /afer yo/v.

Patented Oct. 9, 1945 UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE WHEEL STRUCTURE George Albert Lyon, Allenhnrst, N. J.l Application December 2019453, Serial N0. 514,876 1 claim. (c1. soi-e7) v' This invention is directed to an improved wheel structure and relates more particularly to an improved retaining arrangement for\maintaining a cover assembly over the outer side of thewheel.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved tire rim and central load bearing portion for a wheel structure, where* by the retention of a cover over the outer side the same is maintained with increased eiciency without necessitating the use of auxiliary retaining means.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved wheel structure having a novel coverzretaining arrangement thereon, the wheel structure being such that the cover secured thereto may extend radiallyinwardly of the wheel and whereby the necessity of the cover extending axially inwardly with a relatively abrupt curvature is avoided, thereby to afford a more desirable ornamental effect wherebtr the cover more nearly simulates a continuationof the side wall in a tire to give the appearance of being a part thereof and to give the appearance of being a massive white side wall ona wheel structure of minimum dimensions, when colored white.

It is still a further object of theinvention to provideV an improved retaining arrangement for maintaining over the outer side of a wheel struc# ture, an improved cover assemblyl including a radially outer annular portion formed from sheet synthetic plastic material or the like, whereby it may be flexed temporarily, resiliently locally and whereby it is self-sustaining as to form` so as to immediately snap back into initial configuration when distorting pressures are relieved therefrom.

It is a more specic object oi the present invention to provide an improved wheel structure having a tirerirn of the drop center type provided with a base flange, wherein the base ilange is disposed in a position axially offset from the medial plane of the wheel and also having an improved central load bearing portion, whereby there is provided retaining means for detachable engagement of a cover assembly to maintain the same over the' outer side of the wheel structure.

In accordance with the general features ofthe present invention there is provided vherein an improved wheel structure including a tire rim of the drop center, flanged type, the tire rim including a base flange, opposite side wall flanges and opposite intermediate flanges, together with opposite edge portions, the opposite side wall anges and intermediate flanges being of greater axial dimension on one side of the wheel than those on the other, thereby to position the central, base ange in a position disposed axially outwardly oi the medial plane of the wheel, there also being av central load bearing or spider portion provided with a radially outer peripheral, axially inwardly extending skirt arranged for attachment to the adjacent surface of the base flange, said spider having formed at a radially inner part thereof, a seriesl of circumferentially spaced, circularly disposed protrusions for retainingly engaging, in detachable'relationship, a cover assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the .invention will become apparent frdm the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a wheel structure embodying my invention, parts being' broken Vawayfor illustrative purposes; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, radial cross-sectional view of the wheel structure shown in Figure 1.

As shown 4best in Figure 2, the tire vrim Ill includes a base ange II having opposite side wall flanges I4 and I4a, opposite intermediate flanges I5 and Ilia and opposite edge portions It and, Ilia. The central load bearing portion or spider I2 is provided with a generally axially inwardly .extending peripheral skirt I2a which is secured to the base flange II of the rim Il] by riveting or welding or the like. The intermediate portion I3 of` the spider or central load bearing portion |12 is slightly cross-sectionally bowed and is disposedl in a plane which extends generally through the axially outer edge of the base llange .I I ofthe tire rim I0. The intermediate portion I3 vof the spider I2 ,terminates in an axially inwardly offset bolt-on ange I'I by means. of which the wheel may be secured as by wheel bolts to a suitable part of a vehicle such as the brake drum or the like. Intermediate the portions I3 and I4 of the spider there is provided a plurality of generally axially outwardly, slightly radially inwardly extending, circumferentially spaced, circularly aligned protuberances I8. As will be seen, these protuberances I8 are formed from the material of the vspiderand are preferably punched outwardly of the spider I2 from the rear side thereof.

"Referring particularly to the `relationship of the 'tire rim I0 and the spider I2, it will be seen that, to the end that a cover member such as that shown at I9 may be secured over the wheel to best simulate a continuation of the side wall of a tire, the cover retaining protuberances I8 should preferably be disposed as far radially inwardly on the wheel as possible and yet be disposed in a plane as far axially outwardly from the medial plane of the wheel as is possible.

To thisendthe two sides of the tire rim I are provided with Varying dimensions whereby attachment of the liange I 2a of the spider I2 to the base flange II ofv the rim will automatically result in a proper disposition of the protuberances I8. As will be seen, this end is accomplished herein by providing a side wall flange Lila `en one side which .isconsiderably longer than, and disposed at a more shallow angle than the companion side wall flange I4 while, at the same time, the intermediate flange I5a -s provided with a length considerably greater than that of the companion intermediate ange J5."

With this construction it will be seen that .the base ange II is disposed in an axially outward position from the medial planeo the Wheel.

If desired, the intermediate flanges I5 and I'5a may be .provided with intermediate shoulders 20A which serve positively to align the opposite beads ci .a tire 2.1 which is disposed inthe :tire Furthermore, the `respective shoulder 42l) aids in preventing slippage of the respective tire bead inwardly on the elongated .flange 15a. nIt will be seen that the ,tire 2l is further provided with an inner tube .-22 which in tur-n has .a tire valve stem .23 that -is aligned with .andextends through a suitable aperture in .the side wall -flange I4. :It

will also `be .seen 'that `the 'length Vof the valve stem 23 -is-.such that it is -housed .entirely behind he `cover part -I 9 `to be-described presently.

With 'the vforegoing .construction yit willA be seen that ithe '.protu-berances :I8 which serve as a point of yattachment Ltor a :cover assembly, as `will be clearly described presently, are located .in the desired position in that they .are aligned lwith a plane :axially outwardly of the medial pla-ne .of the wheel and at the same time are aligned .on a circle disposed `radially inwardly .toward the center of the wheel and far .beyond the junction of the spider I2 and the tire .rim l0.

In the present construction the cover assembly Aincludes a radially outer annular part .t9 having across-.sectional.expanse of .such configuration that .it :generally simulates the ,curvature of .the side wall of the Atire 2 I .and extends `from vthe edge 4`portionfl radially inwardly toa point adjacent the protuberances IB. The cover assembly shown herein is completed by .the ,pro-

vision of a central circular hub cap simulating member 24 having .a crowned portion 25 'terminating in .a generally axially inwardly, radially inwardly, obliquely disposed resilient snap-on flange 126 which in turn terminates in a rigiditying, snap-on bead 2l. Asfwill be seen, 'the radially inner, margin -of `the cover member 19, which cover member is preferably formed from sheet Vsynthetic Aplastic material thereby to 'be locally, temporarily, resiliently exibleandgyet self-sustaining as to form `whereby it snapsbac'k immediately into initial configuration when distorting pressures are relievedjthere'from, Vis disposed 'in surface engagement with the outerside of the iiange 2E of the -central #circular fhub fcap simulating member 24. Thus it will be Aseen that the two cover members are normally' retained -togetheras a unitary structure yafter 'the cover .member lIS has beenelastically snapped over :the

outer part of the snap-on bead 2l by movement of the cover member I9 axially outwardly relative to the cover member 24. The cover member 24 may also be formed from sheet synthetic plastic material but is preferably formed from a more rigid material such as stainless sheet steel or the like, whereby it may be provided with a permanent, high luster to give the desired ornamental effect.

To the .end .that the -tire `may .be Ainllated by .application of the nozzle vof an air hose to the end of the stem 23, it will be seen that the operator need merely flex the cover member I9 into the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, whereby the valve stem will be entirely accessible. Furthermore it will be seen that after 'the cover assembly has been attached to the `wheel :structure by being concentrically aligned therewith and then moved axially inwardly so that 'the snap-on head 2T has passed over the iprotuberances t8, the Voperator need merely flex the cover member ,I9 outwardly as described above :and insert the point of -a pry-oli tool fl' behind the .snap-on bead 2l at a point preferably between .two of the protuberances I8. Thereafter manipulation `oi =the tool by .raising the `handle thereof radially outwardly will ,pry .the adjacent portion vof the snap-on .bead .21 .axially :outwardly over the .peaks 'of 4the protuberances YI 8 `to fpermit complete .removal of .the .cover assembly from the wheel.

In view of the .above .described novel wheel structure it. will .be seen .that there .may be provided, for :attachment .to .a -wheel structure, a cover .assembly Vhav-ing a 4radially .outer :part ,provided .with ,a =long gradual sweep vfrom the .edge .portion I6 of the tire ,rim inwardly to the protuberances .Iv-8, .the .attachment operation notrequiring .an .abrupt curvature of the .radially ;.inner part of .the cover .member .i9 .axially inwardly .to engage .the snap-on .retaining bead.

What Irelaim is:

Infa cover .assembly for disposition .over the outer `-side .of a .wheel structure having a .tire rim and .a central load .bearing portion provided with .cover .retaining xmeans, a radially buter, .annular cover kmember formed .from .resiliently yieldable material and .having .flexible .characteristics whereby it may be locally .iiexed from .the outer side thereof. and it Vcan return .to its :initial configuration gupon relief .of .the .exing .pressure therefrom, .and fa central, .relatively .rigid .hub

^ cap member, .said hub =cap .member :having .a

ange .at the peripheral margin thereof :for `receiving `4the inner .margin of the annular cover member ,in surface .relationship to .support .the same, said .hub Vcap member also 4having a tretaining portion .f or-detachably engaging withsthe 

